Radially arranged tumbler type lock

ABSTRACT

A radially arranged tumbler type lock having secondary locking means brought into operation upon an attempt to pick the lock without a key. The rotating parts of the lock include a main shaft engageable at an outer end by a key, a first tumblercarrying plug element fixed to said shaft, a second tumblercarrying plug element fixed relative to an outer housing, and a third plug element fixed to said shaft and defining a circular groove in which the inner ends of tumblers may move when the tumblers are properly aligned. Arcuate slots transversely communicate with said groove and permit entry of the inner ends of said tumblers therethrough. However, if an attempt is made to pick the lock by progressively overcoming individual tumblers, rotation of the main shaft through a small increment made possible by the overcoming of the first tumbler serves to misalign the remaining arcuate slots with respect to the inner ends of the remaining tumblers, and prevents subsequent aligning movement thereof.

United States Patent [1 1 Mercurio [111 3,797,289 1451 Mar. 19, 1974 RADIALLY ARRANGED TUMBLER TYPE LOCK [76] Inventor: Leonard Mercurio, 34 Beaumont Dr., Plainview, NY. 11803 [22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 324,332

Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles E. Temko [5 7] ABSTRACT A radially arranged tumbler type lock having secondary locking means brought into operation upon an attempt to pick the lock without a key. The rotating parts of the lock include a main shaft engageable at an outer end by a key, a first tumbler-carrying plug element fixed to said shaft, a second tumbler-carrying plug element fixed relative to an outer housing, and a third plug element fixed to said shaft and defining a circular groove in which the inner ends of tumblers may move when the tumblers are properly aligned. Arcuate slots transversely communicate with said groove and permit entry of the inner ends of said tumblers therethrough. However, if an attempt is made to pick the look by progressively overcoming individual tumblers, rotation of the main shaft through a small increment made possible by the overcoming of the first tumbler serves to misalign the remaining arcuate slots with respect to the inner ends of the remaining tumblers, and prevents subsequent aligning movement thereof.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures This invention relates generally to the field of radially arranged tuinbuler type locks commonly used to protect the coin vaults of coin operated devices, and in other areas where the incidence of pilfering is high. More particularly, the invention relates to a lock of this type having secondary locking means brought into operation upon an attempt to pick the lock, whereby the lock may be more effectively pilfer resistant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The prior art includes locks of this general type, which differ from conventional tumbler or Yale type locks in that the individual tumblers, instead of being arranged in a line extending from the front to the rear of the rotating plug element, are arranged with the principal axes thereof parallel to the principal axis of rotation of the plug element, and the key includes a projection adapted to engage a corresponding recess on the outer end of the plug and a series of elongated grooves, the inner ends of which determine the degree of movement of the individual tumblers to align the same for rotation of the plug. While locks of this type are somewhat more pick-resistant than the conventional lock, the individual tumblers are still capable of being overcome on a progressive basis, in a manner analogous to that of overcoming the conventional lock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT I INVENTION Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provi sion'of a radially arranged tumbler type lock including first and second tumbler-carrying elements, one of which is fixed withrespect to the main shaft, and the other of which is fixed with respect to the inner surface of a housing. An additional tumbler carrying plug element is fixed with respect to the shaft, and disposed on the inner side of the second mentioned plug element. This element is provided with a series of radially arranged bores corresponding to those on the second plug element, and a recessed groove bordered on the forwardly facing portion thereof by a rim. Arcuate slots are cut in the rim to have the principal axes thereof aligned with the bores. The inner ends of the tumblers are provided with a peripheral groove adjacent the inner end thereof, so that the inner end itself may, with rotation of the plug elements ride within the groove, and the diameter of the grooves in the tumblers accommodates the diameter of the rim. Thus, when the lock is opened in normal manner, with the use of the corre sponding key, all of the tumblers are simultaneously aligned, so that the inner ends thereof are seated within the groove to permit rotation of the plug elements. If

an attempt is made to pick the lock in normal fashion,

one tumbler at a time, the first tumbler may be aligned, and the plug elements partially rotated until arrested by the next tumbler. However, this small rotational movement misaligns the inner ends of the tumblers with the arcuate slots in the rim, so that further manipulation of any of the remaining tumblers is no longer possible. To free the remaining tumblers, it is necessary to rotate the plug elements to the initial position, wherein the lock may be again opened using a key.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, to which reference will be made in Q the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a main shaft element and secondary locking means fixed thereupon.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view as seen from the righthand portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view of a plug element forming a part of the device.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view thereof, as seen from the righthand portion of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of another plug element forming a part of the embodiment.

. FIG. 7 is a view in elevation as seen from the righthand portion of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the rearward half of an individual tumbler.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view showing the front portion of an individualtumbler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by. reference character 10, comprises broadly: a housing element 1 l, a key element 12, a first rotating plug element 13, a second fixed (relative to the housing element) plug element 14,, and a third rotating plug element 15, forming a secondary locking means.

The housing element 11 is of generally conventional configuration and construction, and includes a threaded cylindrical member 17 and an enlarged head 18. A through bore 19 extends between a forward surface 20 and a rear surface 21. i r

The key element 12 is also conventional, including a manually engageable portion 24, and a hollow shaft portion 25, an outer surface 26 of which is provided with scalloped recesses 27, each having a transverse surface 28, as is well known in the art. An inner projection 29 engages a corresponding recess on a main shaft 30 for imparting movement therebetween, again, as known in the art.

The first plug element 13 rides on the main shaft 30, and is bounded by a forward surface 32, a rear surface 33 and a cylindrical surface 34. At'a medial point 35, set screw means is supported to interconnect the same with the main shaft 30 for rotation therewith. Longitw dinally arranged bores 36 slidably accommodate the forward portions of tumbler means in normal manner.

The second plug element 14 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is bounded by a cylindrical outer surface47, a forward surface 48, and a rearward surface 49. Acentrally disposed bore 50 surrounding the main shaft 30 extends between the forward andrearward surfaces. Radially arranged longitudinally extending bores 51 accommodate the rear portions of the tumblers, and communicate with counter bores 52 defining shoulders 53. The element 14 is normally held fixed with respect to the housing element 11 by set screw means 54.

The third plug element 15, as has been mentioned, constitutes the secondary locking means which is not present in normal constructions.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the element is bounded by a forward surface 57, a rearward surface 58, and a cylindrical surface 59. At a medial point 60, a set screw fixes this element with respect to the main shaft 30. A groove 61 is bounded by a rim or lip 62, the groove having a diameter slightly greater than the locus of points formed by the radially outward portions of the longitudinal bores 63. The rim 62 is provided with arcuate recesses 65, as best seen in FIG. 3 which directly overlie the bores 63.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the tumblers differ from conventional construction to cooperate with the secondary locking means. FIG. 8 illustrates an inner pin member 66 having an outer enlarged head 67, a reduced shaft portion 68 and an annular groove 69 adjacent an inner head 70 having a diameter equal to that of the portion 68. The outer pin member 22 (FIG. 9) will vary in length in accordance with the length of the enlarged head 67 with which it cooperates, as known in the art.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cooperation of the component parts may' be readily understood. Individual springs 73, one for each tumbler, move the tumblers to locked condition as in conventional constructions. With the insertion of a key, the tumblers become aligned, at whic position all of the inner heads 70 are aligned with the groove in the third plug element 15, and the main shaft 30 may be rotated without difficulty.

If an attempt is made to pick the lock in the normal fashion in which one tumbler is overcome at a time, it is possible to align a single tumbler, and incrementally rotate the main shaft a small degree. However, when this happens, the arcuate slots in the rim of the third plug element 15 will also incrementally rotate, and thus be no longer aligned with the principal axis of the remaining tumblers which have not been overcome. When this occurs, it is no longer possible to move the inner heads 70 of the inner pin members 66 within any portion of the third plug element, and thus further picking operation is impossible. This secondary locking operation does not in itself cause any damage to any part of the device, and when the main shaft 30 is returned to normal locked position, the device may be again operated by a proper key.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

I. In a radially arranged tumbler type lock having an outer housing, a main shaft disposed for rotation within said housing, a first tumbler bearing plug element fixed with respect to said housing, a second tumbler bearing plug element fixed with respect to said shaft, and key means engaging said shaft and having means aligning tumblers within said first and second plug elements to permit rotation of said main shaft relative to said housing, the improvement comprising: a third plug element fixed with respect to said shaft to rotate with said first plug element, said third plug element defining an arcuate groove bordered by a lip defining an edge, said edge having a plurality of recesses extending therein to communicate with said groove, the arcuate locations of which correspond to that of tumblers disposed within said first plug element, said tumblers each having inner end portions of diameter corresponding to the radius of said recesses adjacent an inner end thereof, and corresponding to the longitudinal depth of said arcuate groove to enable the inner ends of said tumblers to ride in said groove after passing said recesses in said lip, as said main shaft is rotated.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said third element including radially arranged through bores corresponding in location to the radially arranged tumblers in said first plug element, permitting the inner ends of said tumblers to pass the plane of said arcuate groove to provide an additional locking function. 

1. In a radially arranged tumbler type lock having an outer housing, a main shaft disposed for rotation within said housing, a first tumbler bearing plug element fixed with respect to said housing, a second tumbler bearing plug element fixed with respect to said shaft, and key means engaging said shaft and having means aligning tumblers within said first and second plug elements to permit rotation of said main shaft relative to said housing, the improvement comprising: a third plug element fixed with respect to said shaft to rotate with said first plug element, said third plug element defining an arcuate groove bordered by a lip defining an edge, said edge having a plurality of recesses extending therein to communicate with said groove, the arcuate locations of which correspond to that of tumblers disposed within said first plug element, said tumblers each having inner end portions of diameter corresponding to the radius of said recesses adjacent an inner end thereof, and corresponding to the longitudinal depth of said arcuate groove to enable the inner ends of said tumblers to ride in said groove after passing said recesses in said lip, as said main shaft is rotated.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said third element including radially arranged through bores corresponding in location to the radially arranged tumblers in said first plug element, permitting the inner ends of said tumblers to pass the plane of said arcuate groove to provide an additional locking function. 